Development and performance assessment of electrically heated gloves with smart temperature control function. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Nini; Lu, Yehu; Xu, Fanfei; Dai, Hongqin
• Is Part Of: International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics. Volume 26:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: protective gloves -- smart electrically heated -- cold protective performance -- local thermal sensation -- local thermal comfort; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Human Engineering -- Periodicals; Occupational Health -- Periodicals; Ergonomie -- Périodiques; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; Human engineering; Industrial safety; Periodicals; 620.8
• DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2018.1457886
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-3548

Abstract

Abstract : A pair of lightweight electrically heated gloves (EHG) with smart temperature control function was developed. To evaluate the thermoregulation properties of the EHG, human trials were conducted in a climate chamber (2.5 °C, 60% RH). The changes in skin temperature at all fingers and the opisthenar, and the subjective thermal sensation were recorded over 60 min. The effects of two air velocities (i.e., 0.17 and 0.50 m/s) on the cold protective performance of the EHG in scenarios of heating and control were also investigated. For heating scenarios, skin temperature and thermal sensation at all fingers and the opisthenar were found significantly higher than those in control conditions. Moreover, the air velocity at 0.50 m/s greatly reduced the cold protective performance of the gloves. The research findings can be applied to improve thermal comfort and extend working times for persons in cold environments.